I can't break my raid 0 volume :(

I'm completly new to this raid thing so please help me if you can..

When i started up my computer to install my OS i saw that the preinstalled raid 0 volume had status "failed"

When entering the setup menu i relized that the computer only detected 2 hdd and not 3.

So i tried to break the preinstalled raid 0 volume with 3 hdd in order to make a new one with my remaining 2 hdd.

So I entered raid config menu by pressing ctrl+i in the startup. But
when i'm trying to delete the raid volyme by pressing Y when promted
to, it just jump back to the previous menu and nothing happens. I
Can't Delete the preinstalled raid volym for some reason...

Nor can i choose the "reset raid data" option.. well i can go in and mark the 2 hdd and say that i want to reset them. But when asked to confirm by pressing Y, nothing happens when i press Y

Does anyone know what to do?

 

I'd get a hammer. Then you can surely break you RAID 0 array.

More seriously, I think this may be your problem:

Are you trying to break a RAID 0 array on hard disks that have an OS installed? If that is the case, I am wondering if it won't let you since you will loose all of your data in the process.

You may need to install Windows (or whatever OS) you are using again and reconfigure the RAID array for three disks in the process.

I could be completely wrong though. These are just my initial thoughts...

 

There's definately something wrong here. Your assumptions about having an OS loaded causing issues is not accurate. When you do the CTRL+I, and go into the ICH8R BIOS, you should see the array that the computer thinks that you should have, along with a status for that array. Obviously, RAID-0, with no redundancy will not function with the less of any drive in the array.

However, you certainly should be able to delete the array, and confirm that you want to delete it, and then it should go away. If this is not happening, and you're sure that you've read all of the on screen instructions properly, then I can understand your frustration.

If this is the case, it might be time to call your vendor support line. It certainly should allow you to do anything you choose from the ICH8R BIOS, including the creation or deletion of arrays. This is completely independant of any operating system that might be loaded into partitions on the RAID volumes, more to the point: the two have nothing to do with eachother, as far as this issue is concerned.

 

alternatively, to break a RAID-0, as you already know, you can just remove another drive. Hell, it's already broken right, so you've got nothing to lose at this point. If you get stuck in the adapter BIOS, and it won't let you kill the existing array, try powering the machine down, and removing another drive, then deleting. I've seen weirder things work in the past.

 

As you said, the OS has nothing to do with it. I bought it without any and i'm trying to install now..

I've tried to delete it several times now and i'm 100% sure that i didn't miss anything in the screen instructions.

I think i will try to remove it (sata port 3 is that the drive under the battery? And do you know if it's only the three screws you have to take away to open the battery hatch?)

I'm not so happy about screwing this thing apart the first thing i do after getting it..

Even if i take the broken one out I guess it could be the same. The computer don't find that one anyway. In setup menu it's only two drives. Not two and one malfunction one.

but as you said weirder things has happened...

 

Ok. problem solved. The drive under the battery wasn't attached
properly.. So, not broken

And because PCMW installed a scandinavian/german keyboard all my letters are in strange positions, so when i was hitting Y the computer saw it as a Z... :/

Thanks for all the help. I love this forum

and.. 10085 3dmark 06 with stock drivers on VISTA 64bit!